Advertise on podcast: This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference

NEW YORK -- BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman, UConn head coach Dan Hurley, and Peacock television analyst Jordan Cornette are the guests on the 10th episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week in the BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Focus is Commissioner Val Ackerman, who previews the 44th playing of the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden, the state of the conference as a power player in an ever-changing college sports landscape, and how the league continues to be at the forefront of innovation and growth when it comes to college basketball. This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on UConn head coach Dan Hurley.  The 2024 Naismith National Coach of the Year gives an assessment of his Huskies' squad as it wraps up the regular season and prepares for a run toward the program's third national title in the last four years, while opening up about the special moment between him and UConn forward Alex Karaban on Senior Day. For the National Perspective, Peacock analyst and former BIG EAST standout Jordan Cornette talks about the league as it prepares for deep runs into March, who could be a surprise in New York City next week, and the impact the BIG EAST has made on him and his family as his late brother Joel is set to be honored as part of the conference's Legends program. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, DePaul forward N.J. Benson, and FOX television and St. John's radio analyst Vin Parise are the guests on the ninth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Creighton head coach Greg McDermott.  Now in his 16th season at the helm of the Bluejays, McDermott joins the show to discuss his squad's season so far and their prospects for moving forward into Madison Square Garden and beyond.   This week's BIG EAST Focus features DePaul forward N.J. Benson.  The senior has played a major role in the Blue Demons' resurgence while leading the country in dunks.  Benson touches on the 2025-26 season and what DePaul looks to accomplish in March. For the National Perspective, FOX and St. John's radio analyst Vin Parise gives his perspective on the league as it takes over New York City in a few weeks, including a closer look at a potential third meeting between UConn and St. John's, the mentality of a coach this time of year, and all things BIG EAST. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, Xavier forward Tre Carroll, and Fox and Peacock television analyst and former St. John's standout Tarik Turner are the guests on the eighth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley.  Having spent the past 15 seasons in the league at Georgetown and Providence, the veteran head coach thinks anyone can make a run at Madison Square Garden at the BIG EAST Tournament.  Hot off a recent five-game win streak, Cooley has his Hoyas' squad ready to close out the regular season on a high note entering into the postseason. This week's BIG EAST Focus is Xavier's high-scoring forward Tre Carroll.  In his first season in Cincinnati, Carroll leads the BIG EAST in scoring at 18.4 points per game.  Carroll joins the show and talks about his career run, spending three seasons at Florida Atlantic prior to joining the Musketeers.  Carroll was a key part of the Owls' improbable Final Four run in 2023 and was an all-conference performer during his time at FAU. For the National Perspective, Fox and Peacock television analyst Tarik Turner talks all things BIG EAST, as his alma mater - St. John's - has emerged at the top of the league standings in mid-February.  He talks about his thoughts on the season so far as the month of March quickly approaches. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

NEW YORK -- St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, Georgetown guard KJ Lewis, and New York Post and college basketball insider Zach Braziller are the guests on the seventh episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on St. John's head coach Rick Pitino.  The Red Storm have won 10 straight entering this weekend's matchup at Providence and are ranked No. 17 in both polls.  The Naismith Hall of Fame coach recently earned his 904th on-court victory - third most in Division I history - and talks about his views on roster construction, how his Red Storm team continues to evolve, and how much fun he is having coaching and competing in the BIG EAST. Lewis joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  One of the top all-around players in the country, the Georgetown guard is a standout on both ends of the floor.  He discusses his first season in the BIG EAST, transferring to the Hoyas after spending two seasons at Arizona, and how his game has grown under head coach Ed Cooley. For the National Perspective, New York Post college basketball insider Zach Braziller joins the show to recap last week's epic matchup between UConn and St. John's, his overview on the BIG EAST as the calendar approaches March, and who he views as one of the conference's best players of the century so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

Xavier head coach Richard Pitino, Marquette freshman guard Nigel James Jr., and ESPN analyst and former Marquette head coach Tom Crean are the guests on the sixth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Xavier head coach Richard Pitino.  In his first season in Cincinnati, Pitino's high-octane offensive attack has the Musketeers on the fast track to success.  He talks about the process of constructing his roster to compete in a physically demanding league like the BIG EAST and gives his perspective on the league as a whole. James Jr. joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  One of the top freshmen guards in the country, the Marquette newcomer is an exciting player on both ends of the court.  Originally from Long Island, James Jr. is another in a long like of outstanding New York guards to shine in the BIG EAST.  He joins the podcast to talk about his first collegiate season and what it is like to play under head coach Shaka Smart. For the National Perspective, former Marquette head coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Crean joins the show to provide his thoughts on the BIG EAST season so far.  He was at the helm of the Golden Eagles when they first joined the league 20 years ago in 2005-06.  Crean will be recognized with a banner in the rafters at Fiserv Forum at the Marquette home game vs. Butler on Saturday, Feb. 7 for his many accomplishments during his nine-year tenure in Milwaukee. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

Villanova head coach Kevin Willard, UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., and TNT Sports' play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes are the guests on the fifth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Villanova head coach Kevin Willard.  In his first season with the Wildcats - and his 12th season in the BIG EAST - Willard has fast-tracked the rebuilding process on the Main Line.  He talks about the process of building a roster from scratch and how influential former Villanova head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Jay Wright was in his decision to return to the league. Reed Jr. joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  Now in his second season at UConn, the 6-11 senior has emerged as one of the top post players in the country.  He talks about the Huskies' hot start to the 2025-26 season, what it is like to play for head coach Dan Hurley, and rising up to the challenge of lofty expectations in Storrs.  For the National Perspective, TNT Sports' Spero Dedes joins the show to discuss what he has seen so far in his first full season of calling BIG EAST basketball.  Dedes, who has been calling NCAA Tournament games since 2010, provides his thoughts and perspective on the teams and the players in the conference and the impact they will make in March. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

NEW YORK -- Creighton guard Austin Swartz, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, and basketball broadcasting icon Bill Raftery are the guests on the fourth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Swartz joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus, hot off a game winner at the buzzer at home over Xavier.  He discussed the transfer process and how he ended up at Creighton after a season at Miami and managing the transition and adjustments needed to play in the Bluejays' system and in the BIG EAST.  This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Shaka Smart - one of four active BIG EAST coaches with a Final Four appearance on his resume.  Now in his fifth season as head coach at Marquette, Smart has guided the Golden Eagles to four NCAA Tournaments, while capturing BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles. For the National Perspective, college basketball broadcasting legend Bill Raftery joins #TWITBE.  The former Seton Hall head coach - now an analyst with FOX and CBS for the NCAA Tournament -  discusses all things BIG EAST, including one of his most iconic calls 38 years ago from Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

St. John's star forward Zuby Ejiofor, DePaul head coach Chris Holtmann, and Rob Dauster from the Field of 68 are the guests on the third episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Ejiofor joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus, discussing his growth as a player and a leader for St. John's.  The senior forward leads the Red Storm in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocked shots and is a key part of the Johnnies' run to a deep NCAA Tournament run.   Holtmann is this week's BIG EAST Spotlight.  He has DePaul at 10-7 overall heading into the crux of the BIG EAST schedule.  Holtmann joins the podcast to discuss his second stint as a head coach in the conference and the strides the Blue Demons have made in their rebuilding process.  For the National Perspective, Rob Dauster from the Field of 68 joins the podcast to discuss the league and some of the many highlights from the 2025-26 season so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  With episode two, the show begins its weekly run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway, UConn standout Alex Karaban, and NBC Sports broadcaster John Fanta are the guests on the second episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Holloway is this week's BIG EAST Spotlight.  The Seton Hall head coach has the Pirates at 13-2 overall and 3-1 in league play as they prepare to travel to Georgetown on Saturday.  Holloway breaks down how he rebuilt the Seton Hall roster so quickly coming into this season after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.  Coming off a thrilling overtime win at Providence, Karaban joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  The redshirt senior was part of two national championship teams for Dan Hurley at UConn and was recently tabbed as one of 25 players for the Wooden Award's mid-season watch list. NBC Sports' Fanta provides the National Perspective.  Calling some of the biggest games in the BIG EAST and around the country, Fanta shares his big picture thoughts on the season so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and recipient of the 2025 BIG EAST Media Award.  With episode two, the show begins its weekly run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, begins its 12th season with guests Butler junior guard Finley Bizjack, ESPN Analyst Tim Welsh and CBS Sports Senior Writer Matt Norlander. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. Prior to Saturday's league opener between Providence and Butler, the first episode of TWITBE takes a look at the upcoming conference season and the landscape of BIG EAST Basketball. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on former Providence coach and current ESPN color analyst Tim Welsh, who discusses the challenges of the transfer portal era, roster construction and schedule composition.  The BIG EAST Focus shines on Butler guard Finley Bizjack. Now in his third season with the Bulldogs, Bizjack leads the team with 18.0 points per game, nearly double his average of 10.3 as a sophomore. CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander gives a view on the national perspective. With so many compelling games through the first month of the season, Norlander breaks it all down as well as gives his thoughts on how the top BIG EAST teams rank in the national picture.  To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman and BIG EAST Legend and former Seton Hall star Jerry Walker. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The ninth episode of TWITBE looks at the landscape of the BIG EAST heading into the final weekend of regular season action. With five games remaining before the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by JEEP, eight of the 11 seeds are up for grabs. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, fresh off clinching the first outright regular season BIG EAST title in 40 years. Pitino now has the Red Storm poised for a pair of deep runs in the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournament, and talks about how the team will enjoy the home court feel at Madison Square Garden as the No. 1 seed. The BIG EAST Focus shines on BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman, who provides an informed account of where NCAA Athletics stand today and where it could be heading. Wrapping up her 12th season as Commissioner, Ackerman looks ahead to the 43rd playing of the BIG EAST Tournament in the world’s most famous arena, MSG.  Rooke and McNamara are then joined by current BIG EAST Legend Jerry Walker. The former Seton Hall forward was the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, as well as a two-time All-BIG EAST member and a two-time BIG EAST Champion in 1991 and 1993. Walker takes the time to talk about his playing days as well as the work he has been doing in the community over the years. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning back the clock 40 years to 1985. St John’s, Villanova, and Georgetown were all in the Final Four during a magical run for the BIG EAST in the 1985 NCAA Tournament. In the first edition of the 64-team field, the eighth seeded Wildcats shocked the world, knocking off Georgetown to win the National Championship.  To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into St. John's at Marquette.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Xavier head coach Sean Miller, Marquette guard Stevie Mitchell and New York Post Journalist Zach Braziller. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The eighth episode of TWITBE looks at the landscape of the BIG EAST heading into the final two weekends of regular season action. St. John's remains atop the standings after clinching at least a share of the regular season title for the first time since 1992. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Xavier head coach Sean Miller, discussing the Musketeer's overcoming early season injuries to make a late season push in BIG EAST play and in the running for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Xavier enters the weekend riding a four game winning streak and are in the driver seat for a first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament. The BIG EAST Focus shines on Marquette senior guard Stevie Mitchell, who leads the defensive charge for the No. 21 Golden Eagles. Mitchell ranks 10th nationally and first in the BIG EAST with 2.46 steals per game. Mitchell and the Golden Eagles rank third in the conference, just one game back from Creighton. Rooke and McNamara are then joined by New York Post College Basketball and St. John's beat writer Zach Braziller, who gives context on the historical season St. John's has had and the expectations the rest of the way. Braziller also gives his perspective on the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament and how many conference teams he expects to compete in the NCAA Tournament. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning back the clock 40 years to Feb. 27, 1985. Madison Square Garden was the theater for the famous “Sweater Game” between Georgetown and St. John’s. It was the first time in the famed history of the Garden to have a matchup between No. 1 and No. 2. While St. John’s had the ranking edge and home court advantage, the defending national champions from Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing, beat St. John’s 85-69.   To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, March 1 at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Providence at UConn.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests St. John's junior guard RJ Luis Jr., Creighton senior guard Steven Ashworth and FOX Sports Bracketologist Mike DeCourcy. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The seventh episode of TWITBE looks at the landscape of the BIG EAST heading into the final stretch of regular season games. After a 2-0 week, St. John's maintains a 2.5 game lead atop the league, while Creighton and Marquette sit in a tie for second at 11-4, one game ahead of UConn (10-5). The BIG EAST Spotlight is on St. John's junior guard RJ Luis Jr., discussing the Johnnies' historic pace with six games remaining in the regular season. Luis has been dynamic for the Red Storm in his second season after transferring from UMass, averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game, as well as 7.2 rebounds per game.  The BIG EAST Focus shines on Creighton senior guard Steven Ashworth, who paces the BIG EAST with 7.0 assists per game, while also averaging 17.0 points per game. Alongside his teammate Ryan Kalkbrenner, the dynamic duo look to finish the season strong and help the Bluejays make a push for the top-seed in the BIG EAST Tournament.  Rooke and McNamara are then joined by FOX Sports Bracketologist Mike DeCourcy, who discusses how the BIG EAST stacks up against other conferences and how many teams he predicts will hear their name called on Selection Sunday. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning back the clock only one year. Last winter, UConn guard Tristen Newton recorded his fourth career triple double as the Huskies topped the Wildcats, 78-54. He finished the game with 10 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Newton carried momentum into the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournaments, garnering Most Outstanding Player of both the BIG EAST Tournament and NCAA Final Four. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into BIG EAST women's basketball coverage of UConn at Butler.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, NCAA Basketball Analytics Expert Ken Pomeroy and FOX Sports and CBS Sports analyst Bill Raftery. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The sixth episode of TWITBE takes a look back on another thrilling week of BIG EAST games, with multiple finishes coming down to the wire. Most notably at the top of the league standings, St. John's hit a road bump for the first time in 10 games, coming up short against Villanova. In addition, UConn knocked off second-place Creighton in a nail-biter, the Huskies first win ever in Omaha, Neb. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Butler senior forward Patrick McCaffery, discussing the Bulldogs up and down season, and most recently righting the ship winning four of the last seven conference games. After opening the season 7-1, including a top-25 win against Mississippi State, Butler went on a nine-game skid before getting back on track. Thanks to McCaffery's leadership along with head coach Thad Matta, he discusses the turnaround and expectations heading into the tournament. The BIG EAST Focus shines on Seton Hall sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman, who leads the Pirates with 14.9 points per game, a year removed from garnering BIG EAST All-Freshman honors. Coleman takes the time to discuss his sophomore campaign and how the team is aiming to finish the season on the right foot. Rooke and McNamara are then joined by former Providence basketball standout Tim Welsh, who now works as a color analyst for NBC and ESPN. Welsh provides an inside look into the BIG EAST's new broadcast partnership with NBC and Peacock, as well as his perspective on how the conference stacks up nationally. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning the clock back 35 years to 1990. Seton’s Hall’s Marco Lokar made the move across the Atlantic from Italy the season after the Pirates lost the National Championship game to Michigan. On February 20th, 1990, Lokar went off with 41 points against Pittsburgh, setting a the BIG EAST single-game freshman scoring record, that still stands today. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into DePaul at Xavier.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, NCAA Basketball Analytics Expert Ken Pomeroy and FOX Sports and CBS Sports analyst Bill Raftery. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The fifth episode of TWITBE takes a look at the top of the BIG EAST standings, as St. John's (20-3, 11-1 BIG EAST) enters Friday's top-20 match up at UConn (16-6, 8-3) riding a nine-game winning streak. Sitting just a game back in the standings and riding an eight-game winning streak, Creighton (17-6, 10-2) hosts Marquette (18-5, 9-3) on Saturday.  The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, to discuss the state of the Hoyas and how the rebuild process has been going. Continuing to improve each week, the Hoyas enter the weekend with more wins in 2024-25 in comparison to the past three seasons combined. In addition, Georgetown remains in the hunt for a top five seed and first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament. The BIG EAST Focus shines on analytics expert Ken Pomeroy, the founder of kenpom.com. Pomeroy's metrics and numerical rankings of every Division I NCAA basketball team are considered invaluable when forecasting the field for March Madness. He takes the time to discuss how the conference stacks up nationally heading into the final stretch.  Rooke and McNamara are then joined by FOX Sports and CBS Sports Analyst, Bill Raftery. Raftery discusses the BIG EAST from top to bottom and gives his thoughts who could be a dark horse candidate to make a March run. In addition, Raftery gives his thoughts on the Red Storm who are off to its best start in 40 years. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning the clock back to Feb. 10, 2018. On this day, St. John’s standout guard, Shamorie Ponds went for 44 points against Marquette. The highest scoring BIG EAST game for a St. John’s player since Marcus Hatten in 2003.  To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Marquette at Creighton.